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Parent to Parent: Real Life TIps to Raise Resilient Kids, is a podcast from Communities that Care of Greater Downingtown. Every other week Chrissie and Bethann will meet with experts and other parents to discuss topics related to raising healthy kids--everything from drug and alcohol use to mental health to supporting independence. Each episode will give listeners concrete, hands-on tips that parents can use in their homes with their families right away. Hosts Chrissie Dziembowski and Dr. Bethann Cinelli have a combined 40+ years experience working in health education with youth, parents, schools and communities. Thank you for joining us! Communities that Care has a Parent2Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!: Instagram @downingtownctc Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC Twitter @DowningtownCTC YouTube LinkedIn We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie Dziembowski with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Episodes
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Today’s episode started out as a conversation about “gray area drinking” and ended up covering all things alcohol related (and we will likely need to record a part 2!). Dr. Jennifer Benjamin and Jerome Williams from the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center joined us to discuss how and why alcohol use increased among adults especially parents, during the pandemic (alcohol consumption rose among adults over age 30 by 14% during the pandemic, with a 41% increase in women heavily drinking), and the impact it can have on parents themselves, and their kids. Chrissie also shares how her own alcohol use changed during the pandemic and how she assessed her relationship with alcohol in early 2021. We also discuss the social and cultural influences that act as “pennies in a jar”, slowly making an impact without us necessarily noticing, and that one does not need to be dependent on a substance to question their relationship with that substance. Dr. Benjamin and Jerome share many resources to access support and ways to consider the environment surrounding alcohol use, in your home and community, and the societal attitude of “it's ok for me because it's ok for you”. This conversation brought up so many great points that truly tap into our favorite saying of “you don't know what you don’t know” and touched on many ways that alcohol can creep into our lives without us even realizing it. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Chrissie mentioned research showing an increase in alcohol use among adults during the pandemic, especially among women and parents.
Chrissie talked about an article that talks about “mommy wine culture” and when did it start.
Dr. Benjamin was our featured speaker in the fall for the Parent Speaker Series event “Being Comfortable in the Uncomfortable: How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Kids”. You can watch the recording HERE.
Bethann shared data from our DASD PAYS data showing most students by 12th grade have observed one or more adults drunk or high. Click here for the full data and these stats are on pg. 81.
Dr. Benjamin shared the risk of introducing alcohol to an adolescent brain since it is not yet fully developed. To learn more click here and here.
Chrissie talked about doing a “dry January” reset with her alcohol use in Jan. of 2021. She read “quit lit'' books including (parts of) This Naked Mind and We Are the Luckiest and also listened to some podcasts by Ruby Warrington about being sober curious. Chrissie also followed a few sober curious/dry challenge accounts on instagram: @1000hoursdryparents and @thesobermomlife.
Jerome and Dr. Benjamin shared tools to use for self assessment and to find support for yourself and/or a loved one:
- SMART Recovery has a cost benefit analysis tool to help make patterns observable.
- PA Get Help Now has a hotline to call for help and links to local providers.
- SAMHSA has a national helpline available 24/7, 365 days per year to find support.
- Alanon and AA are free supports with meetings for specific groups (women only, students, parents, etc.)
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center’s mission is to promote the delivery of strength-based, context-sensitive, developmentally-informed mental health training which builds on and supports the emotionally-sustaining relationships of children, adolescents, adults, and their families. PCFTTC provides training, consulting, and education for mental health and other human service professionals. Follow them on Facebook @pcfttc and on Instagram @philafamily.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @CTCChrissie for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources.
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Today we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about videogames and youth gambling, and how these two activities overlap and intersect. Do you know what loot boxes and microtransactions are? Or that the rating “E for Everyone” doesn’t necessarily mean a game is automatically “safe”? Chrissie learned the answers to these questions and more as we discussed how video games (and learning games) contain many elements of gambling, how gambling activities are really all around us, how to keep an eye out for signs of problem gambling and video game use, and resources for help. Join us!.
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
DASD PAYS Data for Gambling (pgs 36-38)
Josh mentioned that problem gambling is now reclassified in the DSM-5. Here is the definition of gambling disorder from the American Psychiatric Assoc. Here are the criteria from the DSM-5 to diagnose gambling disorder.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Resources to find support:
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA (CCGP) has many resources on their site. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc., maintains a 24-hour helpline, aimed at assisting people whose lives are impacted by gambling related problems. Whether it be the individual themselves, or friends and family members, they strive to connect callers with additional resources located near them. The helpline offers 24/7/365, live assistance to callers. Calls are free and entirely confidential. For callers with primary languages other than English, a language line translation service is available, offering assistance in over 200 languages. Chat and text options are also available. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER.
You can also find Resources for Providing Help.
Follow the CCGP on Facebook @ccgofpa
Reboot and Recover provides treatment for technology dependency.
Game Quitters is a resource to learn more about video game use and dependency.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has resources and screening tools.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) groups meet regularly to provide free, anonymous support. Find a meeting here.
Sign up for CTC’s First Annual Snowball Shuffle Family 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk
Sign up your 6-12 grader for CTC’s FREE Healthy Youth Summit!
CTC’s Parent Resource Page with Marijuana Resources
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Partner Playback - Episode 10: All Things Screens: How to find balance for your child (& yourself) in a tech-filled world
Smartphones, ipads, tablets, videogames…our screens and tech are everywhere! How do we manage our kids (and our own) relationships with screens and technology? Today we are getting help from Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, the founder and Director of Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, prevention, treatment, and research on technology-based addictions. Dr. Diez-Morel explains why we are so tied to our devices, red flags for tech dependency, how to role model our own healthy screen and phone usage, social media and mental health, and the importance of intention when using our devices. Dr. Diez-Morel also shares feedback from students on how they feel about their parents phone use–it is really powerful! We also discuss an alternative “first phone” and resources to set boundaries around tech use in your family. Join us!
Reboot and Recover’s mission is to provide solutions for balanced living in a technology driven world. We offer therapy for individuals, couples, and families struggling with any issues related to technology overuse and addiction. The treatment is provided by licensed and practicing professionals in a confidential and caring capacity. Follow Reboot and Recover on:
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Check out other resources listed on Reboot and Recover’s Resource Page.
Dr. Diez-Morel mentioned GABB phones can be a good choice for a first phone.
Create a Family Media Plan for your family’s tech use.
Common Sense Media has reviews for movies, games, tv shows and other media to see what content is included and provides age guidelines.
The Center for Humane Technology has tips and toolkits for parents, kids, and educators.
Sign up your 6-12 grader for CTC’s FREE Healthy Youth Summit!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
How do students really feel about their mental health day to day? What is the link between mental health and substance use? How great is the impact of bullying on kids? What can parents do to build resilience and monitor mental health at home? We are discussing all these topics today in our Part 2 of breaking down the PAYS data. Chrissie and Bethann are joined again by Sarah Brooks, DASD Student Assistance Specialist, and another guest, Brian McGinley, Licensed Social Worker and School Counselor at the Chester County Immediate Unit. In this episode we explore what factors may be contributing to students reporting feeling low self worth and sadness and/or depression, how students may use substances to cope with mental health challenges, and trends for bullying behaviors and the link to tech. Brian also shares simple, easy tips parents can use at home with their kids including the “7 C’s” and 6 items to watch to monitor your child’s mental health. A phrase Brian shares during this episode is “dealing with life on life's terms,” which applies to this entire conversation (and is a helpful motto to keep in mind in general). Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Listen to the PAYS Part 1 Episode explaining PAYS and discussing substance use among our youth
Read the full PAYS Report for 2021
Brian shared the 7 C’s to help build resilience in kids from Dr. Ken Ginsburg
DASD’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) provides support for students and families with any concern about mental health and substance use
DASD has Counselors and Prevention Specialists that can help!
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
What if we knew what our kids really thought about drugs and alcohol? What if we knew how much youth in our community are using substances AND how they felt about peer and parent substance use? Lucky for us we do have this insight thanks to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey or PAYS. Today Chrissie, Bethann and Sarah Brooks, Student Assistance Specialist at Downingtown Area School District (DASD), are talking all things PAYS. They explain what this survey asks and how the data is used, and highlight what DASD is doing really well and also stats that stood out as things to address. Bethann also explains the power of perception and how this impacts behavior, and the role of social norms, i.e. “everyone is doing it”--when we know NOT everyone actually is. This is Part 1 focusing on risk and protective factors and substance use and perceptions. There will be a Part 2 focusing on mental health coming soon. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Read the full PAYS Report for 2021
Parents are the #1 influence in a child’s decision making
DASD’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) provides support for students and families with any concern about mental health and substance use
DASD has Counselors and Prevention Specialists that can help!
Check out our podcast episode with Gretchen Hagenbuch all about marijuana.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
What does it mean to “set a boundary”? How are boundaries different from rules? The word “boundary” has been thrown around a good bit lately and today we are doing a deep dive into this word and how to apply it to our lives with Priscilla Singleton, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from the Council for Relationships. Priscilla explains what it means to set and respect boundaries both for yourself and others, and she shares how boundaries look different at different ages. We also discuss the benefits of strong boundary setting skills and how this, along with identifying one’s values, are foundational to equipping kids to make positive choices later in life. Lastly, Priscilla shares her observations on how technology and the increasing pace of life have led to a societal pressure to “say the right thing right away”, and the impact of being in a constant state of reactivity–and that it is ok to slow down. We felt this A LOT! Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Priscilla works at the Council for Relationships, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people from all walks of life improve their important relationships by providing exemplary therapy, educating and training clinicians in the family systems approach, and advancing the mental health field through research. You can follow the Council for Relationships on Instagram and Facebook.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
What is emotional regulation? This term has gained popularity recently and to be emotionally regulated sounds great in theory–but how do you actually do it? Chrissie and Bethann spoke with Dr. Lou Bevilacqua, CEO and owner of Sanare Today. Dr. Lou explained what emotional regulation is and why certain kids (and adults) may be wired to be more up and down than others. Dr. Lou also shares his observations on how the pandemic and technology have impacted kid’s regulation skills, how children (and parents) learn regulation skills from their experience and what is role modeled to them, and he tells a story to explain “why do we do what we do”. Plus, Chrissie (“asking for a friend”) gets some advice on how her own anxiety is causing her to put off setting up a boundary with her kid and tech habits. This was a great conversation packed with real life scenarios and to dos. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Sanare Today’s mission is to build a world in which the vast majority of people wake up everyday feeling and thinking that they are okay and can thrive. Sanare Today provides help and support for those hurting from depression, anxiety or addictions through our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), outpatient services, and coaching services (Thrive University). You can call Sanare at 610-344-9600. You can follow Sanare Today on Facebook and Instagram.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
We are back! Our first episode this fall is all about mindfulness, a buzzword we are seeing everywhere these days. Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Jan Michener, Executive Director of Arts Holding Hands and Hearts (AHHAH), a nonprofit in Chester County that provides programs and trainings to increase resiliency and create positive pathways towards productive and fulfilling futures for youth through mindfulness tools, artistic initiatives, and professional development training for staff.
Jan shares with us what “mindfulness” really is and what it means to be mindful in your daily life. We also discuss how a mindfulness practice looks different for everyone, ways to take purposeful pauses and how to practice this with your kids, and the importance of focusing not on how to do but how to be. This conversation was powerful and calming in itself. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
STOP (Stop, Take 3 slow breaths, Observe inside and outside, Proceed with presence and purpose)
PPP – Practice purposeful pauses
AHHAH offers Good Morning Yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday at 9am on Zoom for a small donation. You can also email Jan with questions or for more information on their staff mindfulness trainings and other programs at jan@artsholdinghandsandhearts.com. Follow AHHAH for updates at the links below:
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Today we have our last audioblog episode for the summer! Chrissie is reading our post from July about an update on how Camp Big Brother is going. Spoiler alert–not totally how she anticipated. You can find the written blog post “Update: Camp Big Brother'' with links HERE.
You can find the audioblog episode on Camp Big Brother HERE.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
We are in the last weeks of summer and wanted to again share our episode with Holly O'Connell from A Path to Hope about accessing mental health support for your child. This is a great listen if you have noticed changes in your child this summer, and/or to be prepared going into a new school year. Holly gives real, hands on tips for parents and shares her experience and lessons learned. Join us!
How do you know if your child’s new moods and extra time alone in their room is normal or concerning? How seriously should a parent take a change in friends, behaviors, and academic performance? If you do want to find professional help, where do you even begin? Today we are speaking with Holly O’Connell, a parent whose journey of navigating the mental health care system for her child led to her founding the nonprofit organization A Path to Hope. A Path to Hope’s mission is to empower individuals to seek treatment by offering guidance in navigating mental health systems and support locating resources in and around Chester County. Holly shares her story and experience in finding the right support for her child, and provides guidance on when to act, how to find support that would fit well with your child, and when to make a plan, even if you may never need it. We also discuss how the conversations around mental health are changing (for the better), and how the landscape has changed even in the short 3 years since Holly founded A Path to Hope. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Holly mentions NAMI and Psychology Today to find therapists, mental health professionals, and other resources and information (in addition to her site)
A Path to Hope empowers individuals to seek treatment by offering guidance in navigating mental health systems and support locating resources in and around Chester County. You can find A Path to Hope on:
Facebook @apathtohope
Instagram @apathtohope
CTC’s Parent Resource Page-Mental Health
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.